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WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Haena-Wainiha, HI Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A+ with no contaminants above EPA limits. Here's everything we tested and how Haena-Wainiha ranks. What to do ↓

0 contaminants over a legal limit
0.0 ppb lead, 90th percentile · low
None unresolved violations
833 people served by 1 water system

PWSID HI0000415 · moderate data confidence · local government utility

Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026
A 96.9 / 100

#13 of 64Hawaii cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Haena-Wainiha water safe?

Based on EPA testing data, Haena-Wainiha's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (96.9/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 833 residents using groundwater (wells).

The headline

Nothing over a legal limit

Every contaminant measured in Haena-Wainiha's water is within its EPA limit, and no violations are unresolved.

See the testing ↓
The good news

Lead is well under the limit

90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.

See the trend ↓
Stay informed

Check back after the next refresh

EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.

Get alerts ↓

Haena-Wainiha's drinking water received a grade of A+ (96.9 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 833 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

Haena-Wainiha ranks #13 out of 64 cities in Hawaii for water quality, placing it above average in the state. Haena-Wainiha relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Haena-Wainiha may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

How the 96.9/100 breaks down Methodology →
ViolationsHistorical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
44.9 / 45A
Lead & CopperLead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
20 / 20A
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
10 / 10A
Source RiskWater source: Groundwater.
5 / 5A

02What's in Haena-Wainiha's water

Every contaminant flagged in Haena-Wainiha, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.

1 detection · sorted by % of legal limit
Over the limit Elevated — watch Within limits
0 50% LEGAL LIMIT 150%
1 contaminant tested under EPA SDWIS, LCR and UCMR programs · 1 detected · not yet tested for PFAS under UCMR 5

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Haena-Wainiha's ten-year track record

Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Haena-Wainiha.

UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Haena-Wainiha's water quality assessment. Grade: A+ (96.9/100).
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Coliform (TCR).Resolved
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U.Resolved
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05101520EPA action level · 15 ppb2010 — 5 ppb2014 — 0 ppb2017 — 0 ppb2019 — 0 ppb2020 — 0 ppb2023 — 0 ppb502010201720202023

Down 5 ppb since 2010. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2023) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Haena-Wainiha's water comes from

Haena-Wainiha's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Source

Groundwater

Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.

Treatment

Local treatment

Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.

Distribution

1 system

1 water system, operated under local government ownership.

Delivery

833 people

Residents served across Haena-Wainiha's service area.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 833 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
HAENA-WAINIHA HI0000415 833 Groundwater

Water bodies near Haena-Wainiha

Right Branch Lawai Stream Nr Umauma Rd, Kauai · river Weoweopilau Stream At Highway 50 Bridge, Kauai · river Waiahi Str Us Upper Powerhouse, Kauai · river Sf Wailua River Nr Lihue, Kauai · river Nf Wailua Riv Abv N Wailua Ditch Int, Kauai · river

These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.

05How Haena-Wainiha compares

Scores for nearby Hawaii cities on one line, with the average marked.

Mililani Bws
97.5 · A+
Haena-Wainiha (this city)
96.9 · A+
Pearl Harbor
94.8 · A
Wailuku
91.4 · A

dashed line = Hawaii average (92/100)

Haena-Wainiha scores 96.9/100on par with the Hawaii average of 92/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Hawaii rankings →

Kauai water quality rankings
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.

06What to do at home

Steps matched to what testing actually found in Haena-Wainiha's water — not generic advice.

Extra protection

A basic carbon filter still helps

Haena-Wainiha's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.

Compare tested filters →
Know your report

Read your utility's annual report

Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.

How to read a CCR →
Stay informed

Watch for Haena-Wainiha alerts

We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.

All water alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Is Haena-Wainiha, HI tap water safe to drink?

Haena-Wainiha's water quality earned a grade of A+ (96.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #13 out of 64 cities tested in Hawaii.

What contaminants are in Haena-Wainiha's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 2 violations are on record.

How is Haena-Wainiha's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Haena-Wainiha?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Haena-Wainiha's water come from?

Haena-Wainiha's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 833 residents.

Is Haena-Wainiha's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Haena-Wainiha uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 2 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Haena-Wainiha's water compare to other cities?

Haena-Wainiha ranks #13 out of 64 cities in Hawaii (better than 80% of state cities) and #131 out of 15382 cities nationally (99th percentile). The grade of A+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Haena-Wainiha's small water system affect quality?

Haena-Wainiha's system serves approximately 833 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 2 violations on record.

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About Haena-Wainiha, HI: Līhuʻe is an unincorporated community, census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Kauaʻi County, Hawaii, United States. Līhuʻe is the second-largest town on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi, following Kapaʻa. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 6,455, up from 5,694 at the 2000 census. Wikipedia → Sources: EPA SDWIS & ECHO · UCMR 3–5 · Lead & Copper Rule samples · EPA TRI · U.S. Drought Monitor · FEMA declarations. Data last updated Jul 2026. Analysis by the WaterVerge Editorial Team · methodology.